Introduction of Guest Speaker William Ruckelshaus, Delivered on April 17, 1974 Arend D

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Introduction of Guest Speaker William Ruckelshaus, Delivered on April 17, 1974 Arend D Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Presidential Speeches University Archives 4-17-1974 Introduction of Guest Speaker William Ruckelshaus, delivered on April 17, 1974 Arend D. Lubbers Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/presidential_speeches Part of the Archival Science Commons, Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Lubbers, Arend D., "Introduction of Guest Speaker William Ruckelshaus, delivered on April 17, 1974" (1974). Presidential Speeches. 34. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/presidential_speeches/34 This Speech is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Presidential Speeches by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ' .• ... Introduction of William Ruckelshaus Guest Speaker at GVSC April 17, 1974 by Arend D. Lubbers Throughout history there have been historic massacres. In our country the most recent is known as the Saturday Night Massacre. It occurred on October 20, 1973, and it involved a relatively small number of people. Fortunately, it was not literally bloody, it was historic. Our speaker was one of the victims. There is a difference between this massacre and others, however, as the dust settles and time passes, it appears that the victims "got the better part of the deal. " Many of the world's massacred have gone to their fate because of values and principle. The same is true about our speaker, William D. Ruckelshaus. That is one of the reasons why he has earned the nation's respect. There is another incongruity about Mr. Ruckelshaus' career, in addition to being a winner victim. His vita shows that he held three jobs within a three-year period, hardly a recommendation to a prospective employer. From 1970 to 1973, he was Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Acting Director of the FBI, and Deputy Attorney General, until he was fired from that position. Again, the apparent is not true. He brought intelligence, accomplishment, and dignity to all three positions, and in the first of these established an international reputation. One that will make a place for him in history as an early leader in the struggle to save the planet for life and beauty. In his last government job he performed well and its abrupt termination ,/ .. , f _,,(,, /./ ;/'/() I ~-r', t·· Page 2 "'' reflects more unfavorably on the firee than the fireor. In his home state of Indiana he was Deputy Attorney General, and majority leader in the Indiana House of Representatives. In an exciting, close, U.S. Senate race he lost to incumbent Birch Bayh. Before becoming EPA Administrator, he was Assistant Attorney General of the U.S., functioning as head of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. You can see that Mr. Ruckelshaus' successes and contributions to society are impressive and his few defeats dramatic to say the least. Even as an occasional loser he comes out a winner. We are pleased that William James College has brought Mr. Ruckelshaus to campus to address us and officially open the exciting Documerica Exhibit in this building. We are honored by his presence. .
Recommended publications
  • The Neglected Question of Congressional Oversight of Epa: Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes (Who Shall Watch the Watchers Themselves)?
    THE NEGLECTED QUESTION OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF EPA: QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES (WHO SHALL WATCH THE WATCHERS THEMSELVES)? RICHARD J. LAZARUS* I INTRODUCTION The United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and the federal environmental protection laws within its charge have received much attention in the literature during the past twenty years. Commentators have frequently considered the relationship of EPA to the courts, including the advantages and disadvantages of both more and less exacting judicial review of agency decisions.' Scholars have likewise periodically examined the peculiar way in which Congress has drafted the federal environmental protection laws to ensure their achievement of policy goals. 2 These laws have Copyright © 1991 by Law and Contemporary Problems * Associate Professor of Law, Washington University, St. Louis. In my plenary review of EPA's first twenty years, reproduced later in this volume, I describe more fully the collision of institutional forces (including those unleashed by Congress) that have surrounded EPA, why they developed, and how they have affected both EPA and the evolution of federal environmental law. See RichardJ. Lazarus, The Tragedy of Distrust in the Implementation of Federal EnvironmentalLaw, 54 L & Contemp Probs 311 (Autumn 1991). This article explores in greater depth the causes and effects of congressional oversight of EPA, a specific topic for discussion at the Symposium on EPA sponsored by the Duke University and Washington University Schools of Law in November 1990. The article benefitted greatly from the comments I received at the symposium, especially those offered by Joel Aberbach, Don Elliott, Anne Shields, and Steve Shimberg. Kathleen Lindenberger and Cathy Varley provided valuable research assistance.
    [Show full text]
  • A List of the Records That Petitioners Seek Is Attached to the Petition, Filed Concurrently Herewith
    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN RE PETITION OF STANLEY KUTLER, ) AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, ) AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR LEGAL HISTORY, ) Miscellaneous Action No. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN HISTORIANS, ) and SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARCHIVISTS. ) ) MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF PETITION FOR ORDER DIRECTING RELEASE OF TRANSCRIPT OF RICHARD M. NIXON’S GRAND JURY TESTIMONY OF JUNE 23-24, 1975, AND ASSOCIATED MATERIALS OF THE WATERGATE SPECIAL PROSECUTION FORCE Professor Stanley Kutler, the American Historical Association, the American Society for Legal History, the Organization of American Historians, and the Society of American Archivists petition this Court for an order directing the release of President Richard M. Nixon’s thirty-five-year- old grand jury testimony and associated materials of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force.1 On June 23-24, 1975, President Nixon testified before two members of a federal grand jury who had traveled from Washington, DC, to San Clemente, California. The testimony was then presented in Washington, DC, to the full grand jury that had been convened to investigate political espionage, illegal campaign contributions, and other wrongdoing falling under the umbrella term Watergate. Watergate was the defining event of Richard Nixon’s presidency. In the early 1970s, as the Vietnam War raged and the civil rights movement in the United States continued its momentum, the Watergate scandal ignited a crisis of confidence in government leadership and a constitutional crisis that tested the limits of executive power and the mettle of the democratic process. “Watergate” was 1A list of the records that petitioners seek is attached to the Petition, filed concurrently herewith.
    [Show full text]
  • Toxic Temptation
    TOXIC TEMPTATION The Revolving Door, Bureaucratic Inertia and the Disappointment of the EPA Superfund Program Eric J. Greenberg THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY 1910 K Street N.W., Suite 802 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 223-0299 TOXIC TEMPTATION The Revolving Door, Bureaucratic Inertia and the Disappointment of the EPA Superfund Program Eric J. Greenberg THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY 1910 K Street N.W., Suite 802 Washington, D.C. 20006 (202) 223-0299 "Let the public service be a proud and lively career. And let every man and woman who works in any area of our national government, in any branch, at any level, be able to say with pride and with honor in future years: 'I served the United States government in that hour of our nation's need.'" - John F. Kennedy "To the extent that the public believes that people who move in and out of government are doing so in order to advance their own economic interest as opposed to representing the public interest when they are in government, that's not a good thing for society." -- William D. Ruckelshaus, EPA's first and fifth Administrator, 1991 "I've had it with patriotism: I'm into greed now." - Anne Gorsuch Burford, EPA Administrator, 1981-1983, to Regardie's Magazine, August 1984 The Center for Public Integrity is an independent nonprofit organization that examines public service and ethics-related issues. The Center's Reports combine the substantive study of government with in-depth journalism. The Center is funded by foundations, corporations, labor unions, individuals and revenue from news organizations.
    [Show full text]
  • Ruckelshaus Weighs in on EPA-Bashing
    Ruckelshaus weighs in on EPA-bashing Original Reporting | By James Lardner | Environment, Regulation March 9, 2011 — In 1983, Ronald Reagan needed a symbol of integrity to run the Environmental Pro- tection Administration and put the lid on a scandal involving its Superfund cleanup program. He turned to William Ruckelshaus, who had won the environ- mental movement’s respect as the agency’s first leader from 1970 to 1972, and then, in the “Satur- day night massacre” of October 1973, had resigned as Deputy Attorney General rather than carry out President Richard Nixon’s order to fire Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor who had taken the Wa- tergate cover-up more seriously than he was sup- posed to. Last week, Remapping Debate sought out the 78-year-old Ruckelshaus — who has also worked as an executive or director at various corporations, including Weyerhauser and Browning Ferris Industries — for some historical perspective on environmental policy and the way the EPA and other rule-making agencies are treated by elected officials nowadays. A lifelong Republican, Ruckelshaus endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008, citing Obama’s campaign commitment to action on climate change as one big reason. Once upon a time the GOP supported environmental protections… Ruckelshaus’s memories of Washington stretch back four decades to a time when, as he recalled, “the Clean Air Act passed the House by 374 to 1; it passed the Senate by 73 to nothing. These were not partisan issues,” he said. “They have become much more partisan since.” He was quick to add that some of Congress’s habits, such as not giving an agency remotely enough funding to accomplish its statutory goals, are longstanding.
    [Show full text]
  • JUNE 10, 2019 Chairman Nadler, Ranking Member Collins, the Last
    STATEMENT OF JOHN W. DEAN U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY HEARINGS: “LESSONS FROM THE MUELLER REPORT: PRESIDENTIAL OBSTRUCTION AND OTHER CRIMES.” JUNE 10, 2019 Chairman Nadler, Ranking Member Collins, the last time I appeared before your committee was July 11, 1974, during the impeachment inquiry of President Richard Nixon. Clearly, I am not here as a fact witness. Rather I accepted the invitation to appear today because I hope I can give a bit of historical context to the Mueller Report. In many ways the Mueller Report is to President Trump what the so-called Watergate “Road Map” (officially titled “Grand Jury Report and Recommendation Concerning Transmission of Evidence to the House of Representatives”) was to President Richard Nixon. Stated a bit differently, Special Counsel Mueller has provided this committee a road map. The Mueller Report, like the Watergate Road Map, conveys findings, with supporting evidence, of potential criminal activity based on the work of federal prosecutors, FBI investigators, and witness testimony before a federal grand jury. The Mueller Report explains – in Vol. II, p. 1 – that one of the reasons the Special Counsel did not make charging decisions relating to obstruction of justice was because he did not want to “potentially preempt [the] constitutional processes for addressing presidential misconduct.” The report then cites at footnote 2: “See U.S. CONST. ART. I § 2, cl. 5; § 3, cl. 6; cf. OLC Op. at 257-258 (discussing relationship between impeachment and criminal prosecution of a sitting President).” Today, you are focusing on Volume II of the report.
    [Show full text]
  • Does the President Have Directive Authority Over Agency Regulatory Decisions?
    Fordham Law Review Volume 79 Issue 6 Article 2 November 2011 Who's In Charge? Does the President Have Directive Authority Over Agency Regulatory Decisions? Robert V. Percival Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Robert V. Percival, Who's In Charge? Does the President Have Directive Authority Over Agency Regulatory Decisions? , 79 Fordham L. Rev. 2487 (2011). Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol79/iss6/2 This Symposium is brought to you for free and open access by FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and History. It has been accepted for inclusion in Fordham Law Review by an authorized editor of FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and History. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WHO’S IN CHARGE? DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE DIRECTIVE AUTHORITY OVER AGENCY REGULATORY DECISIONS? Robert V. Percival* Most regulatory statutes specify that agency heads rather than the President shall make regulatory decisions .1 Yet for more than four decades every President has established some program to require pre-decisional review and clearance of agency regulatory decisions, usually conducted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).2 On January 18, 2011, President Barack Obama joined his seven predecessors in expressly endorsing regulatory review when he signed Executive Order 13,563.3 President Obama’s regulatory review program generally emulates those of his two most recent predecessors, relying on OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to review only the most significant agency rulemaking actions.4 Although this form of presidential oversight of rulemaking is now well established, an important, unresolved question is whether the President has the authority to dictate the substance of regulatory decisions entrusted by statute to agency heads.
    [Show full text]
  • Stage 3: Congressional Hearings in March 1973, Judge Sirica Sentenced Liddy, Hunt, and Four of the Burglars to 20, 35, and 40 Years in Prison, Respectively
    Student Handout 23A Stage 3: Congressional Hearings In March 1973, Judge Sirica sentenced Liddy, Hunt, and four of the burglars to 20, 35, and 40 years in prison, respectively. McCord admitted just before the sentencing that there was more information to be shared. Thus Sirica delayed sentencing him. Soon thereafter, L. Patrick Gray, the acting director of the FBI, admitted to having destroyed Watergate evidence. He then resigned. In May, North Carolina Senator Sam Ervin, the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Activities, con- vened televised hearings on Watergate. Many Americans watched the hearings with great fascination. In June, John Dean, whom Nixon had fired as White House counsel in April, testified before the Senate Select Committee. He revealed that the former attorney general, John Mitchell—who had become Nixon’s 1972 pres- idential campaign manager—had ordered the Watergate break-in. Dean explained that the White House was covering up its involvement. He also testified that the president had authorized payments of hush money to the burglars to keep them quiet. Nixon’s aides vehemently denied this charge. On July 16, White House aide Alexander Butterfield testified. He revealed startling information—that Nixon had had a taping system installed in the White House to automatically record all conversations there. Only a hand- included 350,000 angry telegrams sent to Congress and ful of people had known about the system. Now, the the White House. The president responded by appointing hearing’s key questions—what did the president know, another special Watergate prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, and and when did he know it—could be answered by listening then turning over the subpoenaed tapes.
    [Show full text]
  • Minutes of the City-County Council and Special Service District Councils of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana Monday, December 9, 2019
    MINUTES OF THE CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL AND SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT COUNCILS OF INDIANAPOLIS, MARION COUNTY, INDIANA MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 The City-County Council of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana and the Indianapolis Police Special Service District Council, Indianapolis Fire Special Service District Council and Indianapolis Solid Waste Collection Special Service District Council convened in regular concurrent sessions in the Council Chamber of the City-County Building at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2019, with Councillor Osili presiding. Councillor Cordi recognized Pastor Tim Lindsey, Lifeline Baptist Church, who led the opening prayer. Councillor Cordi then invited all present to join her in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ROLL CALL The President instructed the Clerk to take the roll call and requested members to register their presence on the voting machine. The roll call was as follows: 23 PRESENT: Adamson, Coats, Cordi, Coulter, Evans, Fanning, Graves, Gray, Harris, Holliday, Jackson, Johnson, Lewis, Mascari, McHenry, McQuillen, Mowery, Oliver, Osili, Ray, Robinson, Shreve, Wesseler 2 ABSENT: Scales, Simpson A quorum of twenty-three members being present, the President called the meeting to order. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS And VISITORS Councillor McQuillen recognized Councillor McHenry’s husband Fred. Councillor Oliver recognized Marion County Clerk Myla Eldridge, Deputy Clerk NaTrina DeBow, and constituent Erin Latchett. Councillor Adamson recognized AFSCME representatives Georgia Cravey and Michael Torres. Councillor McHenry recognized residents of District 6 who showed up this evening to support others being recognized. Councillor Robinson recognized Pike Township elected officials, Senator Greg Taylor and Trustee Annette Johnson. Councillor Harris recognized Mayor of Clermont, Nancy Baxter.
    [Show full text]
  • The President's Lawyers— Problems
    ALL THE PRESIDENT’S LAWYERS— PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS IN PROSECUTING PRESIDENTIAL CRIMINAL CONDUCT Matthew Hansen* Following the presidential election of 2016, the United States has found itself in a constitutional crisis, the likes of which the Framers could not have anticipated. The evidence currently mounting against President Donald Trump regarding possible Russian collusion has sparked a number of controversies, including the President’s unilateral firing of FBI Director James B. Comey in the middle of a formal investigation into the Trump Administration’s ties to Russia. Despite this potential obstruction of justice, the sole governmental entity with any enumerated constitutional authority to bring punitive action against a sitting president, the legislative branch, has been politically reticent to take any action against President Trump. While Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been tasked with the Russia investigation, there is no precedent in American law that would permit any entity from bringing criminal charges against a sitting president without Congress’s willingness to draft and try articles of impeachment. Further, the current laws governing a special counsel’s abilities severely limit any vital impact he or she may have in the face of a politically biased Congress. This Note proposes the resurrection of Title VI of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which gave special counsel broader authority while conducting investigations into potential executive- branch abuse of power. Additionally, this Note further advocates for an expanded role for the judicial branch in investigating and, if necessary, compelling congressional action through judicial review in situations where an executive- branch abuse of power remains congressionally unaddressed despite special- counsel recommendations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Guardian: EPA's Formative Years, 1970- 1973
    The Guardian: EPA's Formative Years, 1970- 1973 EPA 202-K-93-002 September 1993 by Dennis C. Williams Table of Contents Introduction Building an Agency Drawing the Line Taking to the Air Pesticides and Public Health Changing Captains References Introduction Few federal agencies evoke as much emotion in the average American as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Either directly or indirectly, the agency's operations confront the average person in intimate ways. Everyone wants breathable air, drinkable water, and land free from harmful pollutants on which to live. EPA's actions in pursuit of those goals have altered the nation's social, political, and economic course. Moreover, in attempting over the past quarter century to make a cleaner environment a reality, EPA has found itself regulating the personal conduct of individual citizens. Often, the turbulent relationship between the agency and its diverse constituencies has interfered with these tasks. At various times during its history, the agency has roused business and industry, farmers, environmentalists, Congress, the White House, and the general public to ire. EPA has attempted to regulate the environment by building acceptable compromises among its constituents. Since compromises by their very nature are seldom satisfactory to everyone, EPA's constituents have given the agency mixed evaluations. Still, the agency has continued to follow many of the pollution control strategies set forth by its first administrator, William D. Ruckelshaus. Understanding the course set by Ruckelshaus and his staff illuminates not only EPA's past, but clarifies the agency's place in American society today. Ruckelshaus's original mission appeared simple enough: clean up America.
    [Show full text]
  • Competence Building on Technology Regulation: Monsanto's Experience on Gmos
    The First Globelics Conference COMPETENCE BUILDING ON TECHNOLOGY REGULATION: Monsanto’s experience on GMOs Victor Pelaez Nilson Maciel de Paula Departamento de Economia - UFPR Research Field ❚ The role of technology regulation in the pace and direction of technical progress. ❚ Technology regulation as an important institution of SI, creating specific and complementary capabilities in S&T. Precedent Studies ❚ 1960’s – Increasing on institutions of technology regulation in Developed countries. ❚ 70’s – 90’s – Empirical studies identifying direct and indirect impacts of regulation in the technological trajectories in industry branches (Gellman, 1974; Rothwell, 1980, 1992). Precedent Studies ❚ RESULTS: effects of technological regulation ❚ Not the process. CONTENTS ❚ NEOSCHUMPETERIAN APPROACH OVER REGULATION ON TECHNOLOGY ❚ MONSANTO’S CAPACITY FACING REGULATION OF TECHNOLOGY a) Monsanto’s diversification strategy b) The Pharmaceutical Co. G.D. Searle c) Monsanto’s development of biotech Neoschumpeterian Approach ❚ Recognizes the importance of the institutional environment of the firm, without a more accurate discussion. ❚ Freeman (1987) The institutional dimension is highlighted in the NSI approach. Neoschumpeterian Approach ❚ Nelson (1995) Little research studying has been carried out concerning the linkages between regulatory laws and industrial structure. Neoschumpeterian Approach ❚ Nelson & Winter (1982) Effects of the Clean Air Act in California (60’s, 70’s) on technological development (automobile; energy); and on institutional level (EPA). Neoschumpeterian Approach ❚ Henderson, Orsenigo & Pisano (1999) Patent system – positive stimulus Regulatory System – negative stimulus ❚ Pharmaceutical Innovation Process: 50’s - $ 2 million ; 3 years 60’s - $ 20 milion; 7 years 80’s - $ 150 million; 20 years Neoschumpeterian Approach ❚ Coombs, Saviotti & Walsh (1987) Economics and Technological Change ❚ Technological Innovation – Conflict of Interests.
    [Show full text]
  • Hearing on the U.S.–Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty
    HEARING ON THE U.S.±CANADA PACIFIC SALMON TREATY HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES CONSERVATION, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION SEPTEMBER 18, 1997, WASHINGTON, DC Serial No. 105±57 Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 46±527 CC u WASHINGTON : 1998 i VerDate 06-MAY-99 14:15 May 24, 1999 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 E:\HEARINGS\46527 txed02 PsN: txed02 COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES DON YOUNG, Alaska, Chairman W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana GEORGE MILLER, California JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts JIM SAXTON, New Jersey NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado PETER A. DEFAZIO, Oregon JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland Samoa KEN CALVERT, California NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii RICHARD W. POMBO, California SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas BARBARA CUBIN, Wyoming OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho FRANK PALLONE, JR., New Jersey LINDA SMITH, Washington CALVIN M. DOOLEY, California GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELOÂ , Puerto WALTER B. JONES, JR., North Carolina Rico WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York JOHN SHADEGG, Arizona ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada SAM FARR, California ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island CHRIS CANNON, Utah ADAM SMITH, Washington KEVIN BRADY, Texas WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts JOHN PETERSON, Pennsylvania CHRIS JOHN, Louisiana RICK HILL, Montana DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin Islands BOB SCHAFFER, Colorado RON KIND, Wisconsin JIM GIBBONS, Nevada LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas MICHAEL D.
    [Show full text]